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Stacey007



Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3745
United Kingdom 
Alpine single din radio with bluetooth any good?
Hello


One of the very few things I miss on the Defender is the Bluetooth phone I had in my last car.

I currently have the single Din LR radio CD, eventually would like a double din but cannot bring myself to spend Ł300 on the plastic trim....


So is the Alipne bluetooth radio a worth while upgrade, can you hear people on the phone, does it connect well and sync easily etc.


Thanks
Post #526623 25th Apr 2016 1:00pm
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LoveTheMud



Member Since: 19 Feb 2015
Location: Weybridge Surrey & Pontefract West Yorkshire
Posts: 411
United Kingdom 2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
The bluetooth works a treat, only issue is even with soundproofing etc, at about 70mph and above, you tend to shout...
The other thing I have noticed, - I have my music going through the USB cable from my phone directly into the HU, and then bluetooth for the telephone...sometimes it disconnects when it rings and I have to reconnect it to take the call...
Post #526626 25th Apr 2016 1:13pm
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bpman



Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069
2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
Im looking at this one ...

http://www.alpine.co.uk/p/Products/digital.../ute-93dab
Post #526681 25th Apr 2016 5:12pm
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NormanD



Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: Bristol
Posts: 285
England 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
bpman, just installed one of those, used a powered antenna splitter, works most of the time, now investigating different DAB antennas, good sound quality on factory speakers NormanD WE191

2015 110 XS Utility
2014 VW Caravelle 180 Executive
Post #526745 25th Apr 2016 7:48pm
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mick



Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 2109
England 2010 Defender 130 Puma 2.4 HCPU Rimini Red
Re: Alpine single din radio with bluetooth any good?
Stacey007 wrote:
Hello


One of the very few things I miss on the Defender is the Bluetooth phone I had in my last car.

I currently have the single Din LR radio CD, eventually would like a double din but cannot bring myself to spend Ł300 on the plastic trim....


So is the Alipne bluetooth radio a worth while upgrade, can you hear people on the phone, does it connect well and sync easily etc.


Thanks

Yup works fine for me
Post #526747 25th Apr 2016 7:50pm
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7heaven



Member Since: 03 Feb 2016
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 122
United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Corris Grey
It's ok as a head unit. BT works fine and callers say the sound quality is fine. Lots of tiny buttons but interface is ok once your used to it. Unless you want CD, look at one of the mech less units.

I do sometimes have a problem that if I've been in my other car and connected to BT in there, the Alpine / iPhone don't connect and I have to re-pair.

Sound quality through standard speakers isn't great, but I'm slowly upgrading speakers and have added the Alpine KTP-445A amp which improves things. Subwoofer next...! 2020 110 D200 Base - Pangea with satin paint protection
2015 90 XS Station Wagon (sold)
2010 110 XS Station Wagon (stolen)
Post #526755 25th Apr 2016 8:19pm
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tonyhedge



Member Since: 07 Jul 2015
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 101
2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Montalcino Red
Works a treat with my BlackBerry (and not many modern head units do!). That's not a dent, it's a rivet. That's not a dent, it's a rivet. That's not ... oh! That is a dent!

2014 90 XS SW
1997 Discovery 300TdiS (retired to stud)
1966 Series IIA 88" (now my son's)
2001 Astra - I need something to go and buy the parts when the others are off the road!
Post #526758 25th Apr 2016 8:24pm
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bpman



Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069
2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
NormanD wrote:
bpman, just installed one of those, used a powered antenna splitter, works most of the time, now investigating different DAB antennas, good sound quality on factory speakers


Thanks NormanD, researching antennas now ...
Post #526799 25th Apr 2016 9:50pm
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Cheshire110



Member Since: 26 Jul 2013
Location: Cheshire/London
Posts: 2751
United Kingdom 
Norman,

I'm also been looking I at this one. Does it handle Bluetooth audio well?

The standard alpine one does audio ok but has no track/artist info and has little control over the music etc.

How do you rate it in general?

I don't need CD so seems perfect for me.

Cheers Cheers, David
Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8.
Post #526943 26th Apr 2016 12:53pm
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NormanD



Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: Bristol
Posts: 285
England 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
David, I have the CDE-196DAB Unit, thought it was the same unit, very similar, has the same Operating and Installation manual, works fine for me no issues with Bluetooth works fine, as I said previously, the DAB Signal drops out occasionally, now looking at fitting a Panorama Mast antenna to the rear of my Patriot Rack, used this before on my previous Defender and kept it complete with Bracket when it was sold, see link for details http://www.co-star.co.uk/images/pdf/odp224-4bp.pdf NormanD WE191

2015 110 XS Utility
2014 VW Caravelle 180 Executive
Post #527005 26th Apr 2016 3:58pm
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Cheshire110



Member Since: 26 Jul 2013
Location: Cheshire/London
Posts: 2751
United Kingdom 
Sounds good, thanks for the advice!

Your wall aerial looks interesting, no issues with it being "on the move" as opposed to stationary? Cheers, David
Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8.
Post #527006 26th Apr 2016 4:00pm
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NormanD



Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: Bristol
Posts: 285
England 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
Worked fine, now installing it on my new defender, bracket and antenna fitted, now to route the cable inside the vehicle via the nearside rear light grommet in he floor of the rear tub, make up a connector and run cable to the radio via the top of the interior trim NormanD WE191

2015 110 XS Utility
2014 VW Caravelle 180 Executive
Post #527008 26th Apr 2016 4:06pm
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Cheshire110



Member Since: 26 Jul 2013
Location: Cheshire/London
Posts: 2751
United Kingdom 
Sounds like a good plan Thumbs Up

Cheers Cheers, David
Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8.
Post #527009 26th Apr 2016 4:07pm
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stooby do



Member Since: 14 Mar 2015
Location: St. Helens
Posts: 69
United Kingdom 
I have a Kenwood KDC-BT49DAB in mine. Comes with a DAB antenna included in the box and a microphone. DAB reception is better than the factory fitted stereo and antenna in my 64 plate Skoda Superb. Bluetooth is excellent but had to increase the gain on the MIC for people to hear me due to the noise of the defender. This is easily done from the menu on the headunit whilst on a call and it saves the setting. Really good stereo IMO.
Post #527549 28th Apr 2016 2:10pm
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Doubledoom



Member Since: 27 Dec 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 42
United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Santorini Black
I put the Alpine CDE 195BT in mine which is like the 196 but without DAB. It was plug and play with the PUMA.

Pros (other than the fact it was plug and play - im not good on wiring so thats a plus).
- Bluetooth is perfect. Auto plays bluetooth from phone when the car starts. Dont need to press play on the phone. It carries on automatically from last the point.
- Bluetooth shows album name/artist on the player
- controls on unit control the phone (unlike the CDE 133BT
- sound quality is better than the CDE 133BT
Price was Ł164 new. I use media monkey on my phone

Last edited by Doubledoom on 28th Apr 2016 11:09pm. Edited 2 times in total
Post #527666 28th Apr 2016 10:07pm
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